For now faith in our legislative officials has been restored. The Deseret Morning News reports that the House has amended SB208. The House stripped Senator Killpack's SB208 bill of Eminent Domain powers.

Today the Senate has since ratified the amendments the House made to the bill. Looks like the new watered down bill is onto the Governor's desk.

What the House left in the bill was the requirement that municipalities now have to notify UDOT when there is an application for entitlement work (zoning changes, etc.) on a land where UDOT wants to build a road. UDOT will have 30 days to offer (not condemn as before) to purchase the land from the property owner. If UDOT can't get its act together then the entitlement application moves forward.

Since the bill had been stripped of is threatening Eminent Domain language Farmington Citizens will be able to rest easy that this battle is over. On to the next battle. I'm sure Senator Killpack will be back again in the future to change the rules and force the connector road right through the heart of west Farmington. I'm elated to know that Rep. Brad Lee thought it was prudent that corridor alignment issues be brought before elected municipal officials for consideration rather than bypass public input by giving eminent domain powers to unelected bureaucrats.

Please send a note of appreciation to Rep Brad Lee for his wisdom. You can find contact information for him here: http://www.le.state.ut.us/house/members2005/bios2005.asp?id=11